Understanding the problem. The clinical picture -- "Personality" and more -- Causes. The four faces of borderline personality disorder -- What the person has: the disease perspective -- The dimensions of borderline personality discorder -- Behaviors I: addiction and eating disorders -- Behaviors II: self-harming behaviors and dissociation -- The life story: childhood experiences, development, trauma -- Treatment. Treating the disease -- Treating the behaviors -- Understanding the dimensions and addressing the life story -- Treatment approaches: putting it all together -- Themes and variations -- How to cope, how to help. If you've been diagnosed with borderline personality discorder --- For parents, partners, friends, and co-workers.